Inflatable crib

ABSTRACT

An inflatable and/or portable crib includes a base platform sized and configured to support a child, and inflatable side panels extending vertically from and surrounding the base platform. The base platform and side panels define an enclosure for the child, at least one of side panels having an outer inflatable frame surrounding a region configured to allow visibility within the enclosure.

BACKGROUND

[0001] Portable cribs have been used for years and are extremely handyfor occasional overnight trips, supervised naps in tight quarters, oreven day trips to Grandma's house. A popular version of a portable cribhas sides that are hinged so that upon folding, each side collapses intothe end piece, which is constructed like one half of a suitcase. The endpieces are then latched together to provide a self-containedsuitcase-like unit. Certain versions of this collapsible crib have thesame folding mechanism as well as side panels provided withspring-loaded barrel bolts, which lock the respective sides in the openposition when the crib is in use.

SUMMARY

[0002] In one general aspect of the invention, a portable crib includesa base platform sized and configured to support a child, and inflatableside panels extending vertically from and surrounding the base platform.The base platform and side panels define an enclosure for the child, atleast one of side panels having an outer inflatable frame surrounding aregion configured to allow visibility within the enclosure.

[0003] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one ormore of the following features.

[0004] The region configured to allow visibility within the enclosure isformed of a woven mesh. Thus, a child placed within the crib can beassured to be well ventilated and visible to anyone monitoring thechild. For example, the woven mesh is bonded to the outer inflatableframe (e.g., using heat sealing). Alternatively, the woven mesh isstitched to the outer inflatable frame using a binding tape positionedbetween the woven mesh and the outer inflatable frame. For example,stitching is provided between the binding tape and the woven mesh andbetween the binding tape and the outer inflatable frame.

[0005] Each of the side panels are configured to be inflatable from asingle valve. Alternatively, the side panels are individually inflatableso that the entire crib does not deflate in the even that one of thepanels is punctured.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the base platform is integral to the sidepanels. Alternatively, the base platform can be separate and removableunit allowing the platform to be easily assembled/disassembled andcleaned more easily. The base platform may be inflatable and may includeelongated ribs. In other embodiments, the base platform can be in theform of a mesh.

[0007] The base platform and side panels define a rectangular enclosure.The side panels have a lower end with a width greater than an upper endof the panels. That is, the side panels taper upwardly to provide abroader base for added stability. The side panels are configured to beinflated with air, although other inflation mediums may be used (e.g.,water). The crib includes a pump to inflate the side panels and, ifnecessary, base platform.

[0008] In general, the crib is lightweight and portable. Among otheradvantages, the crib is designed to be mechanically stable without theneed for additional reinforcing structure. The side panels and bottomplatform are formed of materials that are safe (e.g., non-toxic) andcomfortable when inflated. The crib requires virtually no assembly otherthan inflating. When the crib is no longer required to be used, the airis simply released from the side panels by mechanical or manual methods(in certain embodiments from the bottom platform as well) and the cribis rolled into a compact lightweight package and stowed for later use.

[0009] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0010] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable crib

[0012]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the inflatable cribshowing the interface between the meshed netting and the air-filledchamber of the outer frame of the crib.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a plane view of the floor support member of theinflatable crib of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the floor support memberof FIG. 2. 30 FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodimentof an inflatable crib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, an inflatable crib 10 includes fourinflatable side panels 12 attached at a lower end of the panels to afloor support 14. The four inflatable side panels 12 and floor supporttogether define an enclosed volume for enclosing a baby or young child.Each side panel has a height sufficient for preventing the child fromescaping the enclosed volume when the panels are fully inflated. One ofside panels 12 includes its own valve 16 for inflation and deflation.Side panel 12 is inflatable using a hand or foot pump 18.

[0016] Alternatively, the side panels can be inflated using anelectrically powered pump (e.g., battery) or from the mouth of theassembler. In alternative embodiments, each of side panels 12 areindividually inflatable.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, pump 16 includes a bellows 20 that byalternate contraction and expansion draws air in through a pump valve(not shown) and expels it to valve 16 of a side panel 12 through a tube22 having a nozzle 24. The valve 16 is of the type having a stem thatextends from the surface of the side panel during inflation and an openend for receiving a cap. The stem includes an internal flap thatprevents air introduced into the chamber of the side panel fromescaping. When the chamber is fully inflated, the stem is sealed withthe cap and then pressed into the chamber of the side panel. To releasethe air from the chamber, the stem is withdrawn from the chamber, thecap removed, and the stem is squeezed to displace the internal flapsufficiently to allow air to escape. Other valve mechanisms for allowingquick release of air may be used as well. Valve 16 is positioned at thelower end of an outer surface of an associated side panel, where it isessentially inaccessible by a child in the crib.

[0018] Each side panel is formed from a pair of adjacent sheets 26 a, 26b formed of flocked polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other durable, butpliable material. The adjacent sheets are heat sealed at inner and outerperipheral regions to form seams 28 that define air-receiving chambers.The air-filled chambers form an outer frame that surrounds a mesh-likenetting 30 formed of nylon for allowing air to pass through to the childin the enclosed volume as well as to provide visibility of the childwithin the enclosed volume. One approach for heat-sealing the air-filledchambers or tubes of the side panels is radio frequency (RF)heat-sealing. Referring to FIG. 2, in an alternative approach, one edgeof a binding tape 34 is attached to an outer edge of mesh-like netting30 and then folded over so that the opposite edge of the binding tape isattached to an inner edge of the mesh-like netting. A folded-over lengthof binding tape 36 is attached to the edge of the outer peripheralregion 38 of the outer frame that is not inflated. Binding tapes 34, 36are positioned overlap each other and a stitching 38 is then sewnthrough the tapes to secure the mesh-like netting and the outer frametogether. In an alternate embodiment, the mesh-like netting 30 and theouter peripheral region 38 of the outer frame are sewn together withstitching and then covered with a binding tape to reinforce thestitching. In this example, each side panel 12 is trapezoidal in shapehaving a lower edge that is wider than an upper edge.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, crib 10 also includes a separateinflatable cushion 40 formed of PVC and sized and shaped to cover floorsupport 14. Cushion 40 is removable to make assembly/disassembly andcleaning easier. Cushion 40 includes heat sealed seams 42 that extendvirtually the entire length of the cushion 40 to form a series ofcylindrically shaped air compartments. Each of the cylindrically shapedcompartments has at least one air passage connected to adjacentcompartments to allow air to pass from one compartment to the other whenair is introduced through a valve 44.

[0020] Other embodiments are within the scope of the claims.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 5, for example, the floor support of inflatablecrib 50 can include a mesh floor 52 made from the same or similarmaterial used for mesh netting 30. In this version of an inflatablecrib, the floor support weighs less and provides increased ventilationwhen compared with a solid floor support of the embodiment shown in FIG.1.

[0022] In the embodiment described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1-4,inflatable cushion 40 was separate from crib 10 allowing it to beremoved and easily cleaned or replaced. In other embodiments, inflatablecushion, although separately inflatable, is attached or otherwisesecured to the floor support 14.

[0023] In the embodiments described above, valve 16 was used to releasethe air from side panels 12. As discussed above, in certain embodiments,each side panel is independently inflatable through its own valve 16. Ineither embodiment, a separate opening or waste gate having, for example,a wider mouth, is provided to permit faster deflation of crib 10.

[0024] In the embodiments described above, air from the assembler'slungs or pump is used to inflate the compartments of the side panels andbottom cushion. In other embodiments, water or other fluids may be usedto inflate the compartments.

[0025] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crib comprising: a base platform sized andconfigured to support a child; and a plurality of inflatable side panelsextending vertically from and surrounding the base platform, the baseplatform and side panels defining an enclosure for the child, at leastone of side panels having an outer inflatable frame surrounding a regionconfigured to allow visibility within the enclosure.
 2. The crib ofclaim 1 wherein the region configured to allow visibility within theenclosure is formed of a woven mesh.
 3. The crib of claim 2 wherein thewoven mesh is bonded to the outer inflatable frame.
 4. The crib of claim3 wherein the woven mesh is heat-sealed to the outer inflatable frame.5. The crib of claim 2 wherein the woven mesh is stitched to the outerinflatable frame.
 6. The crib of claim 5 further comprising binding tapepositioned between the woven mesh and the outer inflatable frame.
 7. Thecrib of claim 6 further comprising stitching between the binding tapeand the woven mesh and between the binding tape and the outer inflatableframe.
 8. The crib of claim 1 wherein each of the side panels isinflatable individually.
 9. The crib of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofinflatable side panels are configured to be inflatable from a singlevalve.
 10. The crib of claim 1 wherein the base platform is integral tothe side panels.
 11. The crib of claim 1 wherein the base platform isinflatable.
 12. The crib of claim 11 wherein the base platform comprisesa plurality of elongated ribs.
 13. The crib of claim 1 wherein the baseplatform is formed of a mesh.
 14. The crib of claim 1 wherein the baseplatform comprises polyvinylchloride.
 15. The crib of claim 1 whereinthe base platform and side panels define a rectangular square orgeodesic enclosure.
 16. The crib of claim 1 wherein each of the sidepanels has a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having a widthgreater than the upper end.
 17. The crib of claim 1 further comprising apump to inflate the side panels.
 18. The crib of claim 1 wherein theside panels are configured to be inflated with air.